Carton & Company, as stated below, preceeded The Carton Furnance Company. In between this, the firm was also called Carton & Dana. John Carton was an early Furnace Patent holder and later the assets of these firms would become part of a merger that created The International Heater Company.
The following profile was taken from pages 94-95, of a 1883 edition of Commerce, Manufactures And Resources, Oneida County.
Carton & Company,
Manufacturers of and Jobbers in Hot Air Furnaces, Portable and Brick Set
Ranges, Stoves, Tin, Sheet Iron and Metals, 169 Genesee Street.
One of the oldest established and most enterprising houses in Central New York concerned in the sale of stoves, furnaces, &c., is that which is identified with the well known name of Carton. As far back as 1847 Mr. John Carton instituted his business here in Utica and carried it on for years with steadily increasing success. On his death, in 1881, the firm became known as Carton & Dana, until in 1883 it was finally constituted as Carton & Co., as it now remains.
The premises at the indicated address comprise the store and basement and three floors above, of the dimensions of 165 x 28 feet. Here can be found a splendid assortment of stoves, ranges, and hot air furnaces of the best manufacturers and improved patterns. The greatest care is taken by the firm that only goods which are certain to give unqualified satisfaction shall be handled by them; these principles were the cause of success of the original firm, and the present heads of the concern are determined to uphold its original reputation.
In addition to stoves. &c., the house manufactures and handles largely tin and iron plate, solder, tin and japanned ware, and in fact everything connected or necessary for tinmen and stove dealers as well as a full line of fine household goods and fancy brass goods. A large trade is thus done throughout Central New York, and a force of from fifteen to twenty assistants are given employment. A specialty of the house is the celebrated Devonshire Range, manufactured by Richardson, Boynton & Co., which is, beyond doubt, one of the best in the market. Messrs. Carton & Co. have recently put the largest range ever brought to Utica, in the Hotel Zublin. This weighs 2.400 pounds, and the ovens constructed of wrought iron and is provided with every improvement and appliance, and is a model range in all respects.
The gentlemen comprising the firm are Messrs. Thomas Carton, Thomas W. Baxter, and William J. Cosgrove. These are all either natives or long residents of this city, and gentlemen possessing a thorough knowledge of the business and the wants of the trade. Mr. Carton, especially, has had a long experiene with his father who was a thorough expert as regards furnaces and stoves.
The firm buy direct of the manufacturers and producers in all cases and pay cash for everything, which places them on the most favorable plane, enabling them to compete with any similar establishment in this section.
Before closing this brief sketch we would call the attention of our readers to the "17. T. K." furnace, manufactured by the concern. This is made in seven sizes and as many more styles, either portable or brick form, and is undoubtedly one of the best contrivances of the kind made. The new reverse motion grate made by them is also an article of great merit and is provided by an arrangement whereby all ashes and clinkers can be removed without disturbing body of coal on top which not only is a convenience but causes a saving of twenty five per cent, on fuel.
We have said all our space permits with regard to this house, and in conclusion we can afiirm on the authority of the firm, (which is characteristic of its original founder,) that the policy of the house is to sell goods solely on their merits, and if not found to be in every particular perfectly satisfactory, emphatically assert that the money paid shall he returned. These principles of conducting the business have brought about the success of the firm's operations, resulting in all cases to the perfect satisfaction and profit of those who may have dealings with the well known house of Carton & Co.
As described above, Carton & Company was just one of many Utica-based Furnace & Boiler Companies. . Utica's history in boiler and furnace manufacturing offers a great opportunity for creating a Better Wynn Hospital Neighborhood.